Apron Strings Devotional for 5/12/99

5/12/99

Good Morning....
Jesus loves You!!

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Do not let your happiness depend on something you may lose...only ( upon ) the Beloved who will never pass away.

-C. S. Lewis-

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Hi Dear Friends!!

Hope this finds you doing well in our Lord Jesus! I am doing great! What say you wipe the dust off your monitor and sit a spell? Take yer shoes off, put yer mouse on "auto pilot" and kick back while the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart.. God Bless You and see you at the end!

Ps 51:10-11
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Christians wonder why they continue to live in pain or confusion or have no sense of direction. Some of them blame it on God. But you see, He wants to make us clean---and then He can pour His living water through us. Rivers of it, like He promised!

Maybe no one told us accepting the Lord means rejecting sin. Think about it. If you want a glass of water to drink, what's the first thing you do? You make sure the glass is clean. If you pour clean water into a dirty glass, the water loses it's purity. It's no longer fit to drink. It's the same with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can't be poured into this world through an unclean vessel.

We are taught to clean up our behavior---emphasis is placed on outward appearance, the part of us that others can see. So a lot of us look all bright and shiny on the outside---we seem to have everything together----but on the inside we are full of crud. But the Holy Spirit sees it because He looks on the heart----that's where He's going to dwell.

It's as if He comes and inspects the premises. He wants to see if we've cleaned up so He can move in. And when He finds we haven't, He gets on our case. He brings conviction. He tries to get our attention. But if we continually ignore Him, or try to push Him away with excuses, we'll keep heading into darkness---all the while blaming God for not rescuing us! But if we acknowledge Him, He'll work within us to clean up our heart. If we repent of our sin and make some deliberate decisions to live differently, He will forgive our sins and He'll move in to take up residence in our new heart. And once He's residing there, He gives us the power we need to live a godly life.

-By: Keith Green-
From: "A Cry in the Wilderness"

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While visiting NORAD in Colorado, I talked to a general. He had a walkie-talkie, and told me that he had "over the horizon radar contact" with the president and other strategic points twenty-four hours a day.

And I thought, I, too, have "over the horizon radar contact," through the Holy Spirit. I have contact with my heavenly Father, and I know my strategic points.

-Corrie ten Boom-

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MATTHEW 11:28

When you are weak, I am strong.
So rest in My arms, My child.
I will not abandon you.
Call on me, I come on time.

Go now to the secret place
and in My cleft you can hide.
Your prayers will then carry you
and in My peace you'll abide

Lay your burdens at My feet.
I know that you are tired.
I will pour out a refreshing
to give your spirit new life.

Leave your loved ones in My hand.
It is My battle to fight.
Stand by and watch a thousand
fall one by one at your side.

Yours will be untouched and
a new strength in you will rise.
And you will mount up with wings,
as your spirit soars up high,

with each victory you claim
and each mountain you have climbed.
And you will look to your God
with love in a whole new light.

-By: Lori Campisano - Poet4JC@aol.com-
Thanks Lori!!

And the Lord said, "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

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Me again!!

Being a homemaker, I see a lot of things in my daily life, ( which is boring by no means, I love being a wife and mom! ) that pertain to my spiritual life, and as I continue on this path, it gets even deeper! Yes, this walk is definitely exciting!

I will once again bring out the ole "coffee pot" as a visual aid, along with some other kitchen items to illustrate the point. I haven't used the pot in about two weeks, and recently my husband woke up with a hankering for coffee. ( that's southern talk for "desire" ) As I pulled the coffee pot toward me to fill the vat, I noticed that the top was "way loaded" with dust particles. Because of the lack of usage, it sat there long enough to collect the dust. I notice that happens with my spices on my spice rack too, or at least the ones that I rarely use. Dust collects on anything isn't moved or touched.

I remember my mother-in-law once came over soon after I married her precious son, ( who is also my precious Honey! ) and I was making some black-eyed peas for the first time. During that period, my novice abilities were all but crying out for Julia Child to come and rescue me. "Mutt" ( as we in the family call her, no kidding, that's what she told me to call her.. Although we don't say it loud, or all the "mutts" in the neighborhood come a runnin! ) picked up a spoon to taste these peas to see if they were seasoned enough.

Well, unexpectedly for me, she reached for a spoon that was in a canister on the corner of my counter. I cringed as I watched her because that lil canister that held these particular utensils had been sitting there untouched since Noah parked the ark. They were there more for decor than usage. At least, ( ahem ) that was my intention.

As she lowered the dusty spoon into the bubbly pot, I knew that my own goose was cooked. She didn't notice all those extra uninvited "spices" that joined the party in that pot o' peas. So, I did what any loving, overwhelmed daughter-in-law would do in that situation. Nothing. I did nothing and I said nothing.

After she walked off, I turned up the stove as an act of war on those invaders and made a mental note to raise my hand when asked to bless the food, so that I might impart a "double blessing" on those dusty lil fiber-filled tidbits. Well, they turned out ok, and yes, ( gulp ) we did eat them. I do pray now, 15 years later, that I will exercise the boldness that God has given me, and tactfully admit that that spoon is dusty while removing it from her hands, or better yet, wash them thangs on a regular basis, right? ( laughing )

Which brings me to the spiritual application. Part of this ties into some research I recently did on the words pride and humility. The deeper I dug, the more I saw such revelation, but I want to tie this all together and show you something that really struck a chord in my heart.

Nowhere in the Bible does it state for us to ask God to humble us. On the contrary, it says that we are to "humble ourselves."

James 4:10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Pride is a product of self-focus, or maybe to put it another way, self-focus is a product of pride. I notice that the greatest inconsistencies occur in my spiritual walk when I am focused on myself. When that happens, my spiritual life is like that coffee pot, those spices, and even that spoon. "Dusty." I have gotten so out of touch with God, that my spiritual life has gathered dust. I am walking in pride, because anytime I am leaning on my own righteousness and understanding, I am in pride. Things will have to go "my way or no way," yet the whole time, there is this gaping hole in my inner man that yearns for that peace that seems to be way out of grasp.

Ok, now let's switch channels for a sec. Before Jesus ascended to the Father, did He not say He would not leave us "comfortless?" Did He not say that He would send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit to be with us during this pilgrimage?
( John 14:16, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7 )

When we received Christ into our hearts, did this Comforter take residence? Yes! Then, why do we think we are alone, leaning on our own reasoning, ESPECIALLY when it comes to spiritual matters in our lives? Many times I have mouthed the words, "I'm struggling, I'm struggling, I'm struggling..!" You know why I was struggling so hard? Because I was forsaking my Comforter and walking in pride, trying to establish my own comfort. During those times, I failed to acknowledge the One sent to me, that could take me straight into the arms of the Father.

We talk so much about the victorious Christian life, about being overcomers, yet many times we feel like anything BUT overcomers. We feel more like "undergoers!" Friends, we have a refuge and strength in our lives, a very PRESENT help in trouble. ( Psalm 46:1 )

First of all, please remember when we struggle, it is a good idea to question why, because the battle is not ours in the first place! Look up the definition of struggle in your dictionary and then ask yourself why that word is in your vocabulary. I looked it up and was astounded, as I realized that *I* was trying to fight the battle with my own might, thus causing frustration and inner turmoil.

1 Sam 17:47
...for the battle is the LORD's...

2 Chr 20:15
....for the battle is not yours, but God's.

If your spiritual life has gathered dust, and you are at the end of "yourself," ( You will have to be here, because the pride will have to die so that you can truly be resurrected in Christ. ) then listen closely. HUMBLE YOURSELF in the sight of the Lord, and what happens? HE SHALL LIFT YOU UP! We yield, He supplies. Once we grasp the truth of this nugget we will realize that it's not a struggle. It's a continuous flow, just like a river, constantly renewing, constantly cleansing, and constantly headed on the righteous path.

One definition of humble according to Strong's concordance, is "bend the knee." There is something so humbling about getting on our knees before Christ. I remember once I bowed my knees at the foot of a huge cement cross that was located at a cemetery, and I sensed such reverence, realizing that HE was God, and I was a sinner that needed Him desperately.

Now, while we are down there, we have the awesome opportunity to invite the Holy Spirit in for fellowship, to acknowledge Him, and ask Him to take us deeper into Christ. If you've never met Him, introduce yourself.. We do go through the Spirit to get to Jesus, but we can also have communion ( fellowship, participation, intimacy ) with Him, as He gives us a deeper revelation of Jesus..

2 Cor 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the "communion" of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. (emphasis mine)

When we crack open our Bibles, ( after we blow the dust off ) we can say, "Holy Spirit, what does this mean? Please explain this to me." He is with us, Friends. But, I am afraid that we may even have allowed a lil dust to get on Him.. We sing, "Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place." Yet, when He comes, we may fail to see that He wants to commune with us, to have intimacy with us, and give us guidance and direction in this sin sick world. That is a missing key. Think about it. If Jesus left Him here with us, is it wrong to talk to Him? Now, we pray to God the Father, through the Lord Jesus, but when we acknowledge the Spirit, and invite Him in, He fills us with Himself and takes us there!

Eph 5:18
...be filled with the Spirit;

He helps us in our prayer life, He expounds the Word to us, and He guides us with His Light during our daily activities. And when we don't know what to pray, and find ourselves "struggling," He even makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered ( Romans 8:26 ) while at the same time, Christ is interceding for us at the right hand of God! ( Romans 8:34 ) With all that interceding taking place, how can we possibly be struggling?

Just like the Israelites had the pillar of fire at night, and the cloud by day, to guide them, be with them, protect them in the wilderness, we have that! Through God's Spirit, the Holy Ghost! So why are we defeated? Perhaps because we are walking in our own might?

Zech. 4:6
Not by might, nor by power, but by my "Spirit "saith the Lord of Hosts. (emphasis mine)

I offer a challenge this day. If you are spiritually stagnate, or feel like something is still amiss in your walk, then I encourage you to humble yourself, yield yourself, and repent of any sin that His Spirit has revealed to your heart, that you know that you know is creating an obstacle between you and Him. The time is short, and the dust needs to come off. I noticed when I used the coffee pot on a regular basis, it was never dusty. Why? Because I was constantly in contact with it, and would clean it daily. We should do no less with the very Lifeline that we are given through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Invite the Holy Spirit to come into your closet, and have communion with Him. The more you acknowledge His Presence, the more He is with you, the more He woos you to "be led by the Spirit," the more your defeat will be like a distant nightmare. And the next time we sing, "Holy Spirit THOU ART WELCOME IN THIS PLACE, let us mean it, and greet Him with open arms, as He reveals Christ to our hearts, and unfolds the Word of God to bring on new meaning to the word "Victory!" Amen? ( smile )

God Bless You All!!
And remember..
Jesus loves you and I do too!

In Christ!!
Carol
Justaservn@aol.com

Ps 42:7-8
Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

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